The delightful pairing of Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters headlines the 1974 cast of Mack and Mabel. Despite a distinguished pedigree of composer-lyricist Jerry Herman, director Gower Champion, and producer David Merr... more &raquoick, the show ran only 66 performances on Broadway due to an unwieldy and tragic plot about the doomed romance of silent-movie maven Mack Sennett, creator of the Keystone Kops (Preston), and star Mabel Normand (Peters)--which won't prevent you from enjoying this CD. Herman's score evokes the old silents (the banjo is particularly welcome), and the songs include "When Mabel Comes in the Room" (a welcoming song that is a direct descendant of Herman's "Hello Dolly"), the sprightly "Tap Your Troubles Away," Peters's defiant "Wherever He Ain't," and "Time Heals Everything," a gorgeous ballad that Peters subsequently made into a staple of her solo performances. Both Preston and Peters were nominated for Tony Awards, as was the show. The CD includes extensive production notes and a synopsis, but no lyrics. --David Horiuchi&laquo less

Synopsis

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The delightful pairing of Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters headlines the 1974 cast of Mack and Mabel. Despite a distinguished pedigree of composer-lyricist Jerry Herman, director Gower Champion, and producer David Merrick, the show ran only 66 performances on Broadway due to an unwieldy and tragic plot about the doomed romance of silent-movie maven Mack Sennett, creator of the Keystone Kops (Preston), and star Mabel Normand (Peters)--which won't prevent you from enjoying this CD. Herman's score evokes the old silents (the banjo is particularly welcome), and the songs include "When Mabel Comes in the Room" (a welcoming song that is a direct descendant of Herman's "Hello Dolly"), the sprightly "Tap Your Troubles Away," Peters's defiant "Wherever He Ain't," and "Time Heals Everything," a gorgeous ballad that Peters subsequently made into a staple of her solo performances. Both Preston and Peters were nominated for Tony Awards, as was the show. The CD includes extensive production notes and a synopsis, but no lyrics. --David Horiuchi